New Orleans Hornets Al-Farouq Aminu ready to get to work

Among the three players the Hornets acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in last week’s trade involving Chris Paul, forward Al-Farouq Aminu appears to have the most work ahead. After watching Aminu practice for the first time Sunday, Hornets Coach Monty Williams said the second-year player is going have to extend himself more because right now he’s inconsistent.

Brett Duke / The Times-PicayuneHornets small forward Al-Farouq Aminu is in his second year, and Coach Monty Williams said he still has much to work on.

“We feel like he’s a guy that’s going to be in a fight with Quincy (Pondexter) for minutes,” Williams said. “We don’t give up anything around here. He has a skill set, but we don’t want guys to be in position by default.”

By trading Paul to the Clippers, the Hornets acquired shooting guard Eric Gordon, center Chris Kaman, Aminu, who is a second-year small forward, and a first-round draft pick in 2012.

Gordon, who averaged 22.9 points last season for the Clippers, was the centerpiece in the deal for the Hornets. However, Williams said he thinks Aminu has a significant upside.

“He has the skills and abilities that I think most small forwards would pay for,” Williams said. “He’s long and can rebound. When you’re 6 feet 9 and can do that, you are a prototype small forward.”

Gordon is projected to start at shooting guard, while Kaman, a 7-foot eight-year veteran center, is expected to start or become the Hornets’ top big man off the bench. But Aminu, 21, is likely to come off the bench behind starter Trevor Ariza and Pondexter, who was a rookie last season with the Hornets.

“I’m trying to get better and learn the mentality down here, which is always to go hard, and that’s great,” said Aminu, who averaged 5.6 points as a rookie last season with the Clippers. “The intensity in practice here is a little different with guys focused throughout the session, and it’s time for me to start myself out to where the level is.

“All the coaches here are pushing me to be a better player. They just want to get the best out of all their players.”

Gordon said he came into his first practice Sunday not knowing what to expect. After completing a two-hour-plus practice before returning again for an evening session, Gordon now knows Williams is defense-oriented.

“He’s very big on help defense, and there are a lot of defensive schemes,” Gordon said. “They threw a lot of stuff at us, but it’s up to us new guys to learn it and be ready for these upcoming games. I know this is a good organization with good coaching, and I’m here to just fit in.”

Williams said his new players are on an accelerated schedule to learn his play sets and defensive principles before the team’s Dec. 26 regular-season opener at Phoenix.

Williams said Wednesday night’s preseason game against Memphis at the New Orleans Arena will be similar to a practice because guys are still trying to figure out his system.

“I’m just trying to figure out my role, whether I’m coming off the bench or starting,” Kaman said. “I just want to help us get some wins.”